Free Wind Over Marshdale by Tracy Krauss Page B

prepared for the worst. That way, when the little triumphs do come, you’ll be that much more appreciative.”
    â€œI see,” Rachel nodded with a smile. Her friend’s philosophy might leave something to be desired, but at least she was honest.
    â€œWell, I better get home,” Rhoda sighed. “Dinner never seems to cook itself.”
    Rachel had time to think about what Rhoda had said as she finished up the last of her paperwork and locked her classroom. Not that she wasn’t confident in her abilities, but these three cases did create some extra stress and she was beginning to feel the burden. Whatever happened to the simple days of teaching kindergarten only?
    Tonight she was going to treat herself to something quick and easy from the grocery store. It had been a long week so far and she deserved a break of sorts.
    She walked at a brisk pace to the store on Main Street. So far, she’d observed a certain stark reality to life here on the prairies that she sensed was missing back home in the city. Here, people depended on their own sweat and hard work in order to make their living. For the most part, people looked her square in the eye like she was a real person with something to offer, not just another number in a lineup, or another body in a milling crowd of bodies. It was a philosophy of life that was natural and honest. Truthful.
    It was this search for truth that had driven Rachel out west to the small prairie town in the first place. Finding answers was difficult, however, when one wasn’t sure of the questions. Nevertheless, she clutched at her own growing need to find out what the true meaning of life—her life—was. Perhaps this place, stripped bare as it was, was the place to begin.
    It didn’t help that her treacherous hormones seemed on high alert since being here. What was that she’d been claiming, not only to Sherri but to her new friends as well? “Not interested in a relationship right now…” She could think of a couple of examples that just might make her into a liar.
    Upon entering the store, she was greeted by a distinct drop in temperature; a pleasant change from the relative heat of the harvest weather outside. The store was not new by any means. The floorboards creaked underfoot, even waving unevenly in places, but the establishment was clean and well-stocked for such a small place. Maybe from now on she’d do all her shopping here—try to support the local businesses as much as possible.
    She found a plastic grocery basket near the door and started down one aisle and then up another, surveying the items on the shelf for future reference. She pondered for a moment over a can of chunky soup, finally dropping it into the basket. She turned and almost ran headlong into another shopper.
    â€œOh, pardon me!” she exclaimed. Much to her chagrin, it was the disdainful Miss Eleanor Thompson, the senior English teacher.
    Miss Thompson looked down her nose at Rachel for a moment and shrugged. “No harm done.” She moved on.
    Rachel frowned, feeling somewhat dampened in spirits. What was wrong with that woman, anyway? Didn’t she know how to smile?
    â€œYou look puzzled,” a comment came from just up the aisle. It was the science teacher, Carl Binder. His hair was sticking out in all directions and she noticed that his shirt was buttoned up wrong.
    â€œOh, hi,” Rachel said with a little wave. “Carl, right? I was just deciding what to buy for dinner.”
    â€œHmm. May I suggest the frozen foods section? I often find many items to tempt the palette there. And since I don’t really cook much, as a rule, I can just pop whatever takes my fancy into the oven.”
    â€œOr the microwave,” Rachel added, trying to be conversational.
    â€œOh, no! I don’t own a microwave. Did you know that microwaves actually change the molecular structure of the food?” He blinked quite sincerely behind his